Improvement in machines for bending metals edgewise



N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

danni tat-ea @anni @twine Letters Patent No. 90,492, dated May 25, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BENDING- METALS EDGEWISE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

`To all whom it aaa/y concern Y Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BROWN, of Galesburg, in the county of Knox, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forBendingMetals; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact' description thereof.

My machine is adapted for bending heated iron edgewise. I use it to bend the thin plates of iron from which I form the runners of my cornplanting machines. I make the runners of iron. 'Ilhey are broad and thin; and standing up on edge, at a proper distance apart, on being drawn through the previously-plowed soil,

form narrow grooves, in which the planting is eifected.

by other means. A certain portion of the weight of the machine rests upon them, and is supported thereby.

The runners are commonly made of steel or iron, six or seven inches wide near the, back end, and only two or three inches wide at the front. The width `or thickness is usually from three-sixteenths to one-fourth of an inch'. The back, or rear end is usually thickened and split, to adapt it to the purposes of my machine.

I have found it expedient to produce these runners, first, in a straight form, and afterwards to bend them edgewise to the proper curve, the curve being nearly the quarter of a circle. My machine is adapted to et'- fect this operation at a single heat, and to prevent the thin material from buckling, or becoming contorted in the opera-tion. v

I will tirst describe what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention, and will afterwards des'- ignate the points which I believe to be new therein.

rlhe accompanying drawings form a part of this speciiication.

Figure l,is a plan View of the machine, with'a piece of hot material just introduced in a straight condition.

Figure 2 is a corresponding View, after the material has been bent, and before the machine has commenced to be operated in the reverse direction, for its expulsion.

Figure 3 is a section ou the dotted red line S S in iig. l.

Figure 4 is a section ou the line i 'l in 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the tignres.

A isa bed-piece, of cast-iron, and a is a stout upright pintle, supported therein.

A is a curved surface, concentric to the axis of the pintle c, and

B is a thin horizontal chamber therein, adapted to receive a portion of the material for a runner, in a straight condition.

D is a casting, having a form approximating to a large segment ot' a disk, and fitting, at one edge, closely to the curved surface A'. It is deeply cham bered, as represented by D, and adapted to receive a portion of the runner. aswill presently appear.

A portion of the periphery ofthe casting D, is provided with teeth, as indicated at D, and is adapted to receive motion from a. spur-gear wheel, turned by handpower, steam-engine, or other suitable machinery, at intervals in opposite directions.

The stout arm D3 is,tixed, as repre-sented, on the casting, having a thin slot through it, in line with the thin grooved, or deep narrow chamber D, and adapted to receive the runner B', and a thicker slot, D2 which is adapted to receive the wedge G.

In commencing to operate the machine,l turn the part D, with its attachments, into the position shown in iig. l. The iron forerunner having been previously shaped atV the edge, as represented and heated to a bright-red or white heat, Ithrust it through the arm D3, and drive the wedge G, and then gradually turn the part D into the position shown in iig. 2. The runner, being held b y the wedge G, is compelled to move therewith, and during the partial rotation of the part D, is bent'into. the required curved form, and thus lies with a large portion of its bulk within the groove, or thin chamber D, but with the outer curved edge lying` in the other groove, or thin chamber B; in other words, it is, iu the process of curving, gradually thrust edgewisc into the chamber D, so that although but a small portion, and that only the thick end, lay in this groove at the commencement, a much larger proportion lay in this groove at the end of the operation.

This is the general operation of bending, but there are several details and accessories which perform very important functions, which have not yet been described.

H is a stout, thin wheel, turning on the stout pivot It, mounted in the casting A. It is slightly grooved on its periphery, as represented, and receives the main portion of the edgewise pressure of the runner B', in the act of being bent.

The presence of this roller. is very important in reducing what would otherwise be a very objectionable function.

The machine discharges the bent runner automatically during the return motion of the part D.

So soon as the part D commences to turn backward, it carries the bent runner with it, until it strikes the stop I. This arrests its further backward motion, and thrusts it out by the continued motion of the piece D.

The wedge G, although a little while before resisting the tendency ofthe runner to be drawn in theopposite direction, yields easily to a force thrusting it in this way, that is, a force acting from,the smaller toward the larger end of the runner.

I make the stop I in the form of a stout spring, bolted tirmly upon the casting Aat the point t, and provided with an arm, fi', by which it may be lifted.

After the reverse movement of the part D has completely liberated the bent runner, and has thrust it out nearly its whole length, the stop I is lifted, by the action ofthe wedge, o1' inclined plane D5, which may be adjusted forward or backward, as may be required, upon the casting A.

Its function is to lift the stop I, through the me dium of the arm I t, as the casting D assumes the position shown in ig.-1, and to hold the stop thus lifted, entirely out of the Way during the introduction of the material for the runner.

When the material is"introdnced, and the wedge G and the piece D commence to turn, and the bending commences, the stop, inclined plane, or Wedge D5 moves away from under the arm, and allows the stop I to sink.

When the pieceD is in the p ositioirslxoivn in Iig. 2, the stop-I has descended into and across the thin cham'- ber B, and stands in a position to arrest the return movement ofthe runner.

I provide a small wheel on the arm l',to reduce the friction, as will be obvious. y

I prefer to make the piece D and its connections in two or more parts, bolted strongly together. This gives greater' facility for making and finishing the interior of the thin chamber B and D, which receives and iirmly supports the material being bent. l also reduce the bearing-surface under the piece D, so that the friction due to the Weight is 'supported at only a few points. This requires less 'finishing of the surtaces, and reduces the friction.

-V arious other important details are represented in the figures, but all will be obvious to good mechanics, without minute description.

l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Y 1. The turning-piece D',.having its narrow chamber D', and the provision G for securing the materialivhen in a straight form, with the concentric part A', and its groove B, arranged to operate-on straight, thin pieces of material, and to bend them edgewise by the turning vof the part D, substantially and 'in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The thin ugrooved wheel H, arranged, as represented, relatively to the thin chamber B in the part A, and' the thin chamber Dl in the part D, for the' I. S. PERKINS. 

